Examining and operating gown



June 12, 1951 R. w. MILLER EXAMINING AND OPERATING GOWN Filed March 2, 1950 E/cHARO W MILL-ER ATT N EY Patented June 12 1951 2,556,931 EXAMINING Ann OPERATING GOWN Richard w. Miller, Memphis, Tenn. Application March 2, 1950, Serial No. 147,288

This invention relates to garments and more particularly to gowns used by physicians for examining and surgical purposes wherein different 1 Claim. (01. 2114) anatomical portions of the patients body may J be readily exposed for observation or surgical-" operations without undue exposure of other portions of the patients anatomy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very simple and economically constructed gown of this character which adequately drapes a dis-' moval of the gown. Still another object of the invention is to eliminate entirely sleeve sections of the conventional gown of this type and to provide a central opening at the front upper half wherein the anterior portions of the patients body and arms are readily accessible yet when worn the sleeve effect of this type of garment is produced.

These and other objects of the present invention will appear as the following description thereof proceeds, and in order to more clearly understand the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the garment when not in use,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the garment when not in use,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, of the garment in use, and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, of the garment in use.

The conventional gown of this character is ill adapted for examining purposes and treatments particularly for physicians office use. It comprises a wrapper body covering open along the entire back length and having separate side sleeve portions. The upper portion of the patients body may only be examined by removing this type of gown from the upper half of the body. Any examination of the heart, lungs, breasts, axillae, clavicular regions and treatment of these parts of the body usually requires such personal exposure. Furthermore the side sleeve portions of such gowns interfere with such procedures as taking blood pressures, intravenous medications, hypodermics, etc.

These disadvantages are overcome by the use of the gown that is herein disclosed and the objectionable disrobing of the upper half of the patients body during observation and minor surgery is practically eliminated. The anterior part of the chest, breasts, clavicular regions, lateral chest, axillae, upper arms and shoulders are easily accessible and the taking of blood pressures, intravenous medications and hypodermics is simplified. This is accomplished primarily by simplifying the conventional gown now generally used by eliminating side sleeves and merely providing side arm openings extending downwardly from the top to approximately the waist line and providing a front top opening extending downwardly approx mately the same distance. Otherwise the gown is substantially the same as the conventional garment for this purpose now used. However in addition to the advantages thereover described when worn by a disrobed patient the gown gives the desired'modest effect and is more attractive in appearance.

In the disclosure of the invention herewith presented the gown is formed of suitable fabric and comprises a substantially rectangular front section I of greater length than width and a correspondingly sized back section 2 formed of two pieces 3 and 4. The sections I and 2 are usually wider than the patient. The outer lengthwise edges of the pieces 3 and 4 are secured to the adjacent edges of the front section I by stitching at 5 extending from the bottom to a point approximately at what would be the waist line of the gown when worn. The upper adjacent edges of the front and back sections l and 2 are sewed at 5 from the outer edges inwardly to cut out neck portions I. The side edges of the gown are thus provided with arm openings 8 which may be hemmed extending from the top downwardly to a point approximately to the waist line.

The gown thus made is open at the back at the unconnected edges of the back pieces 3 and 4. It may be closed at this portion by conventional tie strings 9. The front section I of the gown is slit downwardly from the neck portion 1 as shown at H] to a point approximately on a line with the bottom of the arm openings 8 and closed by suitable tie strings II. At approximately the waist line is intermediately stitched a waist band 12 which is adapted to be knotted at the back as shown in Figure 4. The free edges of the assembled gown are suitably hemmed.

In Figures 1 and 2 is shown reversely the gown laid out flat. The examining gown laid out flat with the waistband drawn in at the same time tied and the tie strings tied is reversely shown in Figures 3 and 4. While no separate sleeve sections are used with the gown the upper portion mately one-half of the shoulder line 6 at each side of the gown overlaps the wearers shoulder. This gives an attractive appearance to the gown and effectively and modestly covers the patient.

For the purpose of examination of the lateral chest, axillae, upper arms and shoulders the draped shoulder portions are thrown back and access to these parts is readily available for any purpose desired. This is due to the elimination of separate arm sections from the gown and the length of the side arm openings 8. For quick and ready examination, without removal of the gown, of the heart, lungs, breasts, axillary and clavicular regions the strings H are untied. and the gown opened at 10. The length of this opening is such that easy access to the upper anterior front portion of the patients, body is obtained without further removal of the gown. Otherwise the gown is adapted for use as a conven-- tional gown of this character for an operating robe.

Although this improved form of gown for examining and surgical purposes has been illustreated anddescribed herein to a detailed extent,

it will be understood, of course, that the-invention, is not to be regarded as limited correspondingly in scope, but includes all variations coming within the terms of the appended claim.

I. claim:

A gown of the character described comprising equal sized rectangular front and rear portions, the upper edges of said portions having curved cooperative cutaway medial sections to form a circular neck opening for receiving the head of the wearer, the upper edges of the front and rear portions from the neck opening outwardly being 4 connected together to form shoulder portions for the gown, the front and rear portions being of such a width that the shoulder portions overlie the shoulders of the wearer for approximately one-half the lengths thereof outwardly from the neck opening, the remaining shoulder portions overhanging the shoulders of the wearer to provide drape sleeves on the gown when worn, the side edges of the front and rear portions of the gown being connected together from the waistline downwardh to the bottom edges thereof, said side edges from the waistline to the shoulder portions being unconnected to form arm openings, the rear portion of the gown opening along a vertical center line, the curved neck section of the front portion having a medial slit extending downwardly to approximately the waistline of the gown, releasable closure means for the slit, and a waistband for the gown permanently secured to the front portion at the terminal of said slit adapted to permit the front and rear portions to be drawn snugly around the waist of the wearer.

RICHARD W. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED- The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 895,510 Snellenburg Aug. 11, 1908 1,211,832 Elliott Jan. 9, 1917 1,432,249 Hoyme Oct. 17, 1922 1,998,051 Gerber Apr. 16, 1935 2,479,246 Lupo Aug. 1-6, 1949 

